11.12.08

SORRY RONNIE

30 comments:

Rich P
said...

I can't see beyond O'Sullivan for this either, especially if he takes that mindset which we witnessed in the 'inside sport' interview along with him. He seems to do well at Telford so the environment must be ok for him. It's just that stingy price that puts me off. Might have to keep my money in my pocket.

Well he has been worse ...http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/83140102/Getty-Images-Sport?axd=DetailPaging.Generic|1&axs=0|82025507%2c83140102%2c83140101%2c82027681%2c83140103%2c83140118%2c83140104%2c80990240%2c80989441%2c80989443%2c80990242%2c80992464%2c80990245%2c80989425%2c80993861%2c80993858%2c80989423%2c80989412%2c80989424%2c80989439%2c80992646%2c80993866%2c80983009%2c80993863%2c80993870%2c80994118%2c80994108%2c80983001%2c80983019%2c80984809%2c80993501%2c80993250%2c80993563%2c80993565%2c80983004%2c80983034%2c80983614%2c80983021%2c80983020%2c80982931%2c80982929%2c80993873%2c80993697%2c80968190%2c80982808%2c80982933%2c80982997%2c80982967%2c80982942%2c80983049%2c80968089%2c80984807%2c80984813%2c80984815%2c80983604%2c80966353%2c80946433%2c80948512%2c80983056%2c80983052|0

One of the reasons I can't see beyond O'Sullivan is, apart from what Monique has pointed out, he also 'seems' to be getting his life sorted away from the table. His dad is coming out of prison, his relationship issues don't seem to be as problematic, he's loving his running - and if all else fails he goes running, and most of all he looked very contented in that interview. All of that going on his keeping him occupied which I think has been his downfall as he gets bored easily. There's a lot happening so I think we'll see a motivated O'Sullivan at Telford. The tournament should be very high profile because of its timeslot - i'm not sure we've ever had a tournament so close to Christmas but it certainly works for darts. So I expect Dave H will be celebrating another successful pick heading into the Christmas period.

Why do some people feel the need to argue with other people's comments all the time?That's exactly the point of internet forums and blogs, isn't it? :D If everyone agrees with everyone then it's death by boredom. Stevens' form has been abysmal for years with a good match every now and then. And your record, anonymous 6:43, stops in 2005.Stevens is one of my favs and I'd love to see him doing well but I don't think I should be holding my breath.

Don't forget about Hendry.It's unlikely but we have learned over the years never to write him off.He has a tough draw but I would fancy him to beat Lee even though he got trounced by him in Belfast.If he does win that he would probably play Trump.This would be an absoloute cracker.A classic case of the old king against the young pretender to his throne.A win there would give him a lot of confidence and he still is so hard to beat in the longer matches when he is confidence.He looks good value to me at 27/1.COME ON STEPHEN.Leaing Hendry aside it's hard to see past ROS BUT I also like Allen who I am certain is going to win a tournament very soon and it could well be this week especially as he seems to enjoy the longer matches.I also fancy Joe Swail to beat Higgins.

"This is a real longshot but possibly because they don't agree with them???"

Stevens having a good record in long-match events isn't something to agree or disagree with; it's a fact and anyone who says otherwise is just arguing for the sake of it.

"That's exactly the point of internet forums and blogs, isn't it? If everyone agrees with everyone then it's death by boredom. Stevens' form has been abysmal for years with a good match every now and then."

Yes it's all very well for people to disagree with each other, but it loses all meaning when people try to argue with the established facts.

And yes Stevens' form has been abysmal the last few years, but he got to the final in Bahrain and played very well in his qualifying match for the UK so it clearly isn't abysmal at the moment.

Whenever he's gone into a World or UK with any sort of form behind him, he's generally gone on to do very well.

Thanks Dave- I was reminded by these posts of what an enormous favourite Ronnie has normally been when defending a UK or World title and yet he has never managed it. My main hope for this tournament is that we will see some top quality snooker from all the players as they settle into proper length matches!I hope Doherty, Stevens, Hendry, Williams and Higgins recapture some of their old form and we have some classic matches between the old guard and the new. With tv coverage from the last 32 it could be a classic!John H